Man, 33, charged in Ronan Kerr murder probe

A 33-year-old man, Gavin Coyle, has appeared in court in charged with serious
terrorism offences following the murder of Constable Ronan Kerr in Northern
Ireland.

Constable Ronan Kerr, 25, who was killed when an explosive device detonated under his car at Highfield Close in OmaghPhoto: PA

1:55PM BST 23 Apr 2011

Coyle, from Culmore Road, Omagh, Co Tyrone, appeared at Dungannon Magistrates' Court stood in the dock charged with possession of firearms and explosives with intent to endanger life and possession of articles likely to be of use in terrorism.

He was arrested in the wake of 25-year-old Constable Kerr's murder in Omagh earlier this month and the subsequent discovery of a major weapons find in nearby Coalisland.

Coyle is accused of possessing Semtex, rocket propellant, eight detonators, a quantity of improvised timers and power units, home made grenade initiators, a quantity of improvised incendiary devices, four AK assault rifles, six loaded magazines and a quantity of ammunition.

He was also charged with possessing articles likely to be of use to terrorists, namely two mobile phones and four cars.

The offences are alleged to have taken place between May last year and this month.

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Coyle spoke just once during the seven minute hearing, answering "yes" when asked if he understood the charges facing him.

Wearing a lime green T-shirt, he waved to relatives and friends in the public gallery as he stood between two police officers.

He was remanded in custody for four weeks.

Constable Kerr was killed by a booby trap bomb placed under his car on April 2.

Two other men arrested by detectives investigating the murder were released unconditionally on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, a 40-year-old man has been arrested in connection with loyalist terrorist activity.

He was detained in the Donegall Road area of Belfast around 9.30am during a planned police operation.

The man was taken to the police's Serious Crime Suite in Antrim for questioning.

Separately, a substantial haul of guns and ammunition has been recovered by police investigating dissident republican activities.

The weapons cache was found in a vehicle stopped by officers in Keady, Co Armagh near the Irish border on Friday.

Three men arrested at the scene remain in police custody.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) revealed details of the find as it continued to warn of potential dissident attacks over the Easter period.

Security forces in Northern Ireland are on full alert amid fears that the extremists could unleash a fresh offensive.

Just three weeks after the murder of Constable Kerr, police warned that terrorist groups could be intent on trying to murder more officers in the coming days and weeks.

A police spokesman said: "Dissident terrorist groups are continuing to identify officers and target them with the single objective of killing them. And in so doing, their reckless actions will also put the lives of our wider communities at risk."

The new warning came as thousands of mainstream republicans supporting Sinn Fein and the peace process prepared to hold dozens of commemoration parades throughout Ireland to mark the 1916 Rising.

Police said members of the public needed to be on their guard.

Patrols and on-the-spot security checkpoints are to be set up across Northern Ireland.

A spokesman said: "We are taking these steps to keep communities and officers safe. We would not do this unless it was not absolutely necessary to protect life."

The men detained in Keady were arrested as part of a security operation which also involved police in the Republic of Ireland.